The cost comes from 20 different cases, some from incidents dating all the way back to 2006. Of the 20 cases, 16 are identified as "police misconduct" settlements; the additional four are labeled "vehicle accidents."

Earlier this year, Rasmusson filed a lawsuit against police agencies across the state, including Minneapolis, after discovering that law enforcement personnel had looked up her driver's license information hundreds of times without authorization. Rasmusson has since won more than $1 million total from the suit.

Another top payment went to Mauricio McKinney. In November, McKinney received $85,000 after an officer allegedly rendered him unconscious by kicking him in the torso and head, sending him to the hospital with a swollen jaw, facial laceration, and a hematoma in his cheek. According to the lawsuit, the officers had entered a residence belonging to a friend of McKinney's without a warrant while in search for an armed suspect near the corner of East Franklin and South Chicago avenues.

The third-highest settlement went to Kenya Montgomery. In May 2011, Minneapolis officers stopped Montgomery on suspicion of firing gunshots in a north Minneapolis neighborhood. He initially ran, and the officers cornered him by a fence near the corner of Emerson and Lowry Avenues North. Dash cam video of the incident shows Montgomery throwing his hands in the air, but several officers still proceed to punch and kick him. Montgomery received a total of $74,000, which included $34,000 in legal fees.

A settlement by the city isn't the same as admitting guilt. Asked for comment on the payouts, the Minneapolis City Attorney's office provided us with this statement:

We work very hard to prevent risk and claims against the City and the police department. We are fortunate to have a very skilled group of litigators in the City Attorney's Office who are not afraid to take cases through trial when appropriate. We work in partnership with the police department leadership to identify issues proactively and to provide training to prevent future problems. We are pleased with this year's results, but do not take anything for granted and will continue to work hard on prevention and to provide successful, cost-efficient legal services for the City.